PSP Gran Turismo

Before Gran Turismo Portable (GTP) release,  I am very interested in it! It was one of the awesome racing game I had  play before when it was on Playstation and Playstation 2 (PS2).

And now the PSP Gran Turismo is out! However there are some issues if you want to play the downloaded ISO from your mod-ed PSP.

Problem:

After PSP’s Gran Turismo Portable image (*.iso) available for download from Internet. There are many who failed to play the downloaded GTP because it required firmware version 6.0/5.50 .

It is not playable in Custom Firmware 3.70, 3.90 M33 o. …or even 5.00 M33-6!! Yeah, I agree that CFW 5.00 M33 is an outstanding CFW that have we play quite number of games. Until this new Original Firmware 6.00 are release, it seems minimum requirement from most of the new games required firmware version 6.0/5.50. Or even can’t play if we have not patched the game! In other word, we are suck now! Yeah, “we”! Mine is PSP-1000 series with CFW 5.00 M33-<unknown> who failed to played Patched GTP! (describe patched GTP later)

Here are some common question posted by some gamer who failed to make it work:

I downloaded PATCHED GTP but how come it still doesn’t work. Is this a prank, fake or what?

Hey I GOT CFW 5.00 M33-6! Why it still can’t work!?

Not working with CFW 5.00 M33-6, frezzes pas psp logo!!

Tried Game Decrypter with GT on my PSP-3001 using GEN 5.03A and still getting black screen.

Solution:

Don’t worry, you just need to sweat for few seconds because there are some great man who made 6.0/5.50 firmware required games work!

From what I have tried, your PSP

1. need at least Custom Firmware 5.50 GEN-B, and
2. Your game must be patched by using Game Decrypter (Thanks to Yoshihiro )

First Step: Make sure you have upgrade your PSP CFW to 5.50 GEN-B
In order to upgarde to 5.50 GEN-B, you required to upgrade your current CFW to 5.50 GEN-A. Then only upgrade to 5.50 GEN-B from 5.50 GEN-A. This is the compulsory steps. Don’t worry, it’s as simple as learning 1-2-3.

CFW X.XX –> CFW 5.50 GEN-A –>CFW 5.50 GEN-B

1. First, download Custom Firmware 5.50 GEN-A, it is easily found from Internet  (e.g. you may get it from here)
2. Extract the 5.50 GEN-A downloaded zip file, copy it to your PSP memory stick.
3. And run the 5.50 GEN-A PSP Update from your PSP.
4. It will ask you to press “X” to continue and you can just do so.
5. After it is done, you will be getting PSP 5.50 GEN-A from your PSP’s System Information.
6. So now you have 5.50 GEN-A, next we need to upgrade it to 5.50 GEN-B. Same thing, just download the Custom firmware 5.50 GEN-B (e.g. you may get it from here)
7. Extract the downloaded 5.50 GEN-B zip file, and copy to your PSP memory stick.
8. And run the 5.50 GEN-B UPDATER from your PSP.
9. After it is done, your PSP should be CFW 5.50 GEN-B! Congrats!

Second Step: Prepare a patched GTP
While I’m writing this, patched GTP are available for download now. (A) For the easier & lazy way, you can download the Patched GTP and it should works like magic in your upgraded PSP.

(B) The other alternatives is assume that you had downloaded the Original GTP and don’t bother to download the almost 1 GB big file again due to your poor broadband speed. You can use Yoshihida Game Decrypter and UMDGEN to patch your game by yourself.  This will allow you to run your backup games that requires the OFW 5.55 to work properly on custom firmwares 5.50GEN.  The following are the guides I got it from developer’s note and some extra steps that I add in

1. first you need to download Yoshihida Game Decrypter (e.g. you may download from here), extract and install the GameZDecryptZ folder in your X:PSP/GAME  folder
2. *Before you made any changes to the original ISO, it is advised to “Menu > File> File List > Export…” export the file list. (this file is needed later)
3. Okay, now use UMDGEN (e.g. you may download from here) to extract PSP_GAME/SYSDIR/EBOOT.BIN and put that EBOOT.BIN on root of your PSP memory stick.
   • in UMDGEN, open GTP iso file. Browse to PSP_GAME/SYSDIR/EBOOT.BIN, right click on that EBOOT.BIN and choose “Extract Selected..”, extract it to your root of memory stick.
4. Then you can boot game decrypter now you can press X to continue. You will noticed a new folder named “DECRYPTOR” is created on root of your memory stick.
5. connect your usb cable check on root of your memory stick and copy the EBOOT.BIN from the DECRYPTOR folder to UMDGEN and replace that  PSP_GAME/SYSDIR/EBOOT.BIN.
6. *Now import back the file list that you just exported earlier, “Menu > File> File List > Import..”. And select YES to forcing LBAs, then Save.
7. Now rebuild the ISO file. Just save your the modified ISO from UMDGEN to a new ISO file.
8. Finally…. yup! your game is patched! Just copied that new ISO to your memory stick and RACE!!

!!!Important Note: Custom Firmware 5.50 GEN-B. CFW 5.50 GEN-B is ONLY compatible with the PSP-1000 (Fat) & PSP-2000 (Slim) v1 or v2. DO NOT attempt to install this on a PSP-3000 or PSP-2000 with the TA-088v3 motherboard. And try this at your own risk.

SNES Console

During that time, video game console was not very common in Malaysia because not many parents afford to buy any “video game console” for their kids. Parents were always disencourage their kids playing game because they used to believe it may affect their academic results. “Why should I pay for a console which could pull my son away from study!!”

I have to admit that my siblings and I were so lucky that my dad had bought us a SNES. We actually took turn and each of us 2 hours game playing time. Precious memory.

Final Fantasy is always my favorite game after I played Final Fantasy VI(JP) or Final Fantasy III (North America version) 15 years ago. And now their fans are highly expecting the release of Final Fantasy XIII but unfortunately announced that it will be released in 2010.

Final Fantasy VI Opening CG

Final Fantasy VI Town

Final Fantasy Fighting Screen

Final Fantasy VI Fighting Screen 2

Final Fantasy VI Fighting Screen 3

The other game, “Super Mario Bros. 3″ (from Super Mario All Star) is another great game for almost everyone. I bet you guys definitely tried that before right?

Super Mario Bros. 3 Main Menu

Super Mario Bros. 3

Both are very successful title. Oh, nearly forgot to mention “Chrono Trigger”, better check it out.

Unfortunately, my PSP is White Giga Pack that comes with firmware version 2.50 instead of Value Pack that comes with firmware version 2.00 or below. The reason i bought Giga Pack because the gaming shop only have White color in Giga Pack but not Value Pack. That time was a difficult decision that i had to choose whether I take “Black Value Pack” or “White Giga Pack”. As I mentioned, finally i decided to take the White Giga Pack. Why I said unfortunately because as i known, firmware version 2.00 and above cannot play emulator game or other Homebrew Application. However, First homebrew game, Tetris for v2.5, v2.6 is released but you need GTA: Liberty City Stories to run the application. And our hero is Fanjita who tested and developed this first homebrew game for v2.00 and above.

Before I go any further, I would briefly describe what are the differences between these 2. Giga Pack is the newer firmware version and come with 1 Gig Sony Memory Stick Duo, PSP stand, no Handstrap whereas Value Pack is the older firmware version that only has 32 Meg Memory Stick Duo in box.

Giga Pack

• PSP Hardware
• PSP Memory Stick Duo 1GB
• PSP Headphones With Remote Control
• PSP Soft Case
• PSP AC Adapter
• PSP Battery Pack
• PSP Stand
• PSP USB Cable
• PSP Cleaning Cloth
• Free Travel Plug

Value Pack

• PSP Hardware
• PSP Memory Stick Duo 32MB
• PSP Headphones With Remote Control
• PSP Soft Case & Hand Strap
• PSP AC Adapter
• PSP Battery Pack
• Free Travel Plug

As my post title said, this is not a TV Remote. So, what do you think?

In “Next Generation Game Consoles“, there are 3 new game consoles to be released soon: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft XBOX 360 and Nintendo’s Revolution. Microsoft XBOX 360 is the first-mover among these 3 consoles because it will be released on 22 November 2005 whereas Sony PlayStation 3 is gaining higher demand due to it is still a major choice for gamers. Thus, Nintendo’s Revolution comes out an extraordinary game controller that is different from what the normal game controller that we seen. I guess you guys shall know what is it in the picture above now, right? Ya, it is the new game controller for Nintendo’s Revolution.

This new controller is wireless and more than a normal controller. It equipped with a sensor and also has control pad and buttons. The new sensor-designed controller is something like a direct pointing device that can be used as a virtual sword, racket, rod and bat in the games. It also allow user to plug in a joystick-like as second device to its expansion.

“We thought about how everyone in the family uses the TV remote, but some people don’t want to even touch the game controller,” said Nintendo President Satoru Iwata. “We want to set a new interface standard for games.”

Iwata hopes Nintendo Revolution’s controller would draw in more new users of all ages as they are familiar with the TV remote design. Hope that it really can increase more users for Nintendo. Agree?

After brief intro of next generation game consoles in previous post, i believe some of us might wonder when will Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft XBOX 360 or Nintendo Revolution release in market.

Microsoft has made an announcement at Tokyo Game Show that the next generation game console, Microsoft XBOX 360 will be released in North America on 22 November 2005, in Europe on 2 December 2005 and in Japan on 10 December 2005.

There are few reasons that Microsoft would want to have earlier release of XBOX 360 compare to PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Revolution. Obviously Microsoft targeted on holiday shopping rush during Thanksgiving day in the United States. Other than that, it is also around X’mas and New Year holiday that someone may buy XBOX 360 as a gift for other. As Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Revolution are expected to be released on 2006, XBOX 360 will get the first-mover advantage over them.

As the XBOX 360 is to be released, more than 20 games will be on market as well. Here are some famous games’ title:

• Final Fantasy XI
• Resident Evil 5
• Need for Speed Most Wanted
• Ridge Racer 6
• Dynasty Warriors 5 Special
• Call of Duty 2
• more…

So, would you like to have one in future? Or you would want to wait for PlayStation 3 or Nintendo Revolution? Believe me, each of them also worth the price. Remember, you pay for what you get. The more you pay, the more you get.

Personally i think PlayStation 3 will be my choice again.

>>resource

PlayStation 3 is the next-generation of Sony PlayStation game console that provide better features such as Dolby 5.1ch and DTS sound, 6 USB ports, Ethernet, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b/g, support Blue Ray Disc and etc. For more details, please visit Play-Asia.com or PS3Land.com

Microsoft XBOX 360 is the next-generation of Microsoft game console that provides following features: 3 USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g, built-in Media Center, rip music, able to stream media, and etc. For more details, please visit XBOX 360 Official Site.

Nintendo Revolution is the next-generation of Nintendo game console that provides following features: 2 USB 2.0 ports, SD memory slot, Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g, and surprising Nintendo Download Service which allows gamers to download classis NES, S-NES and even N64 games.

All these 3 new game consoles are backward compatible which means PS3 is able to play PlayStation and PlayStation 2’s games, Microsoft XBOX 360 is able to play Microsoft XBOX’s games and Nintendo Revolution is able to play Nintendo GameCube’s games.

Hope these next-generation’s game consoles will be released soon!! Personally i am looking forward to PlayStation 3.

Sony has announced a global recall of certain AC adaptors sold with Slimline PlayStation 2.

There are 38 reports of adaptors overheating cases in United States. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissioin (CPSC), 2 reports of minor burns, 1 minor shock and 4 minor property damage were reported.

These AC adaptors were manufactured between August and December of 2004 and supplied with PS2 models SCPH70002, 70003 and 70004.

Please make sure you check your AC adaptor from www.ps2ac.com. Any replacements for these AC adaptors will be free of charge. This PS2 AC Adaptor Replacement Programme is costly because there are 3.5 million faulty power adapters were sold. Yet, Sony declined to say how much this replacement programme is likely to cost.

If you find your AC adaptor match to this faulty power adaptor criteria, please contact Sony via the form provided by www.ps2ac.com. The replacement unit will deliver with prepaid postage label so make sure you return your faulty AC adaptor to Sony.

Similar cases:

• Apple Computer announced to recall about thousands of batteries used in some of its PowerBook laptops because of overheating problems in August and in May.
• Microsoft to recall 14 million Xbox power cords